Part 18 (1/2)
”To you, at all events, ratitude is due,” returned Ada ”And I would layyou to tell me what shi+p I a conveyed?”
The Italian hesitated, as if he was fra an anshich Ada remarked to herself At last he replied,--”Lady, your first question Ito the patriot Greeks, who are struggling for their liberty against the infidel Turks; and you are in possession of the commander's cabin How you came here I am less able to inform you, and thusfor one of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, where you will be landed, and placed with those ill tend you carefully
Lady, I regret that I cannot tell you more”
The suspicions of Ada werethese words
”I believe that you, signor, would not willingly deceive me,” she observed ”The very tone of your voice forbids the supposition But tell lish, should I desire to be placed on board a British shi+p-of-war, of which I believe there are several in these seas, would not your commander comply with my wishes?”
”The coratify you, lady; but to do as you wishat his features ”I have heard that voice before You speak Italian well; but so do many Greeks Tell me, are you the commander of this shi+p?”
”Lady, I a as the surgeon of the shi+p, to soothe the anguish of those who are wounded I have no authority on board”
”Then why does not the coe my request to be placed under the protection of the British flag Surely he would not refuse to do so”
”Oh, lady, do not ask to see hi his cold reserve and previous caution ”You know not whatHe believes that you are now sick, almost to death, and that your only chance of restoration to health is rest and quiet on shore”
”You speak in enig alarm ”Surely the coainst her will; andrecovered would make him still more anxious to enable me to return to my friends”
The Italian stood for soht
”You know not lady how you came to be on board this vessel,” he said
”You now compel me to tell you Your attendant informs me that the shi+p in which you sailed from Malta was attacked by a corsair, and captured; but that you and she were the only persons conveyed on board the pirate vessel; and that you, having fainted during the engagement, were unconscious of all that took place It appears that for a short time only you remained on board the pirate, still in a happy state of unconsciousness of the ht of the shi+p, chased, and captured her You and your attendant were found on board, respectfully treated, and in possession of the chief cabin This was a suspicious circuly on board”
”Ah!” exclai at the atrocious supposition
”Surely no one could believe that I was acting in consort with pirates?”
”Lady, I do not; but all may not so readily believe the truth,” returned the Italian
”But am I and my innocent attendant then to be punished as pirates,”
asked Ada, with a hysterical laugh
”Scarcely so, lady; but you ainst theainst them,” said Ada; ”for, as you have been informed, I have been deprived of consciousness since I was found on board the English brig”
”The observation you make, lady, is much in your favour,” remarked the Italian in a low tone
”Then I a it, ”that I am, with an attendant, a prisoner in this cabin”
”So I aret, is the case,” replied the surgeon
”Then I understand it all,” she ejaculated, co man, who had advanced a few paces to the after part of the cabin ”From man I can expect no aid,--Heaven will not desert me”